Chester Walls murder bid hears from expert witnesses

A VERDICT in the trial of a teenager charged with the attempted murder of a man who was stabbed in the heart on the City Walls is expected either today or tomorrow.

Floyd Evans, 18, of Stanley Street, Chester, denied the attempted murder of a 35-year-old Brazilian man Francisco Nascimento at a court hearing on January 23.

His trial began at Chester Crown Court on Monday.

The victim was stabbed in the chest as he walked along the City Walls near the Iceland store on Frodsham Street, Chester, at 9.30pm on Monday, October 21, in what police believe was a homophobic attack. Mr Nascimento has since been released from hospital.

The prosecution say CCTV evidence shows a man of similar build making his way to the scene of the attack at the correct time. They also say there is footage showing the same man leaving the scene of the attack which links Evans to the case, despite there being no CCTV of the attack itself.

John Philpotts, prosecuting, said clothing worn by Evans, particularly jeans with white specs of paint on them, were the same as those seen worn by the man on the CCTV.

The court heard from two expert witnesses – a clothing expert and a facial mapping expert – who said the CCTV footage could be linked to Evans.

The court also heard from witness Gareth Davies, a friend of Mr Nascimento’s, who was talking to him on the walls when the attack took place and who positively identified the CCTV footage the police linked to the attacker.

The defence say Evans was not the attacker because he was not at the scene.

Closing statements by the legal teams are expected to be heard later on today.